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A network of adoptive families, birth families, and adoption professionals which exists to improve the lives of children and others touched by adoption through support and education. UFA is actively engaged in community outreach and advocacy to raise awareness of adoption as a loving option.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Foster Parenting in the New Year.

Considering becoming a Foster Parent in 2014?It is life changing, hard and amazing!Love what Dr. Degarmo has to say about Fostering.

~

I recently attended my foster parent association’s annual Christmas
party, a time where the foster parents in my county gather together,
along with our children (foster, biological, adoptive, and even some
grandchildren sprinkled in there). It is a wonderful evening, with
great food, fellowship, support, and even an appearance by Santa Claus,
himself, with gifts for all the children. For all involved, it is a
great way to spend the evening, as we lift each other up in support and
love.

I
was able to spend some time chatting with a new set of foster parents
who had recently joined our association. This loving husband and wife
were parents to twelve children; biological, adoptive, and foster
children. I was so very impressed by their selflessness and dedication
to children, as they devoted their lives to helping children. Indeed,
over the last twelve months while traveling across the country working
with foster parents at training conferences, I have met many such foster
parents, working tirelessly to help children in need.

A successful foster parent is one who provides a caring environment
while a birth family works on their caseload for reunification. Foster
parents not only provide a caring environment, but a safe and stable
one, as well. During this time, as a foster parent, you will agree to
carry out all functions of the birth family. These day to day functions
include assuring that the child’s medical, nutritional, educational,
and parental needs are met. Foster parents may also provide social
activities for the child, as well, such as extracurricular events after
school, city and county sports, and church related activities, to name a
few.

Yet, as we all know, foster parenting is hard work! It
may just be the hardest work you ever do. You will often find yourself
exhausted, both mentally and physically, and feel drained. There is
very little money available to help you, and you will not be reimbursed
for all the money you spend on your foster child. The job will require
you to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no time off. You will
probably feel overworked and under-appreciated. You will work with
children who are most likely coming from difficult and harmful
environments. Some of these children will have health issues, some will
come with behavioral issues, and some will struggle with learning
disabilities. Many times, the children you work with will try your
patience, and leave you with headaches, frustrations, disappointments,
and even heartbreaks. There is a reason why many people are not foster
parents, as it is often too difficult. The turnover rate for foster
parents in the United States is between 30% and 50% each year.

There have been those moments when I have questioned
whether or not I was making a difference. If you read my book Fostering
Love: One Foster Parent’s Journey, you know, then, my wife’s own
doubts, and her desire to no longer foster, as her heart had been broken
numerous times from the many children she had grown to love, only to
see them return to homes where the children were once again placed in
jeopardy. However, when we consider no longer taking in children from
foster care into our home, we are reminded that the need is strong, and
are encouraged by the stories of others, such as the family I met at
the Christmas party.

As we begin this new year, I want to remind you that what
you are doing is important. What you are doing matters. What you are
doing is truly making a tremendous difference in the lives of children
in need. Though you may feel exhausted at times, and though you may
feel that you are not making an impact, you are changing the life of a
child. You are planting a seed in the life of a child in foster care
that WILL grow, and WILL bloom. You may not see this transformation
while the child is living in your home; this seed may not blossom until
much later, but it will blossom if you plant it with love, water it with
your tears, and nurture it with your time and compassion.

It is my hope that you continue caring for children in
foster care. There are so many children in care, yet so few willing to
help. May you have the strength and resources, compassion and support;
and may you continue to change the life of a child in foster care.

Dr. John DeGarmo

Jan. 2014

Dr.
John DeGarmo has been a foster parent for 11 years, now, and he and his wife
have had over 40 children come through their home.He is a speaker and trainer on many topics
about the foster care system, and travels around the nation delivering
passionate, dynamic, energetic, and informative presentations.Dr. DeGarmo is the author of Fostering Love: One Foster Parent’s
Story, and the new bookThe
Foster Parenting Manual: A Practical Guide to Creating a Loving, Safe and
Stable Home.He also writes for a number of publications
and newsletters, both here in the United States, and overseas.Dr. DeGarmo can be contacted at
drjohndegarmo@gmail, through his Facebook page, Dr. John DeGarmo, or at his
website, www.drejohndegarmo.com.

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